1932-1933
Whitman Speech and Debate Team
Faculty
No
picture available at this time.
Roy
McCall
With
W.R. Davis as DSR advisor.
Edith
Davis also taught in the English department, mainly drama/theater.
Prof.
Lapham taught in the English department as well.
Whitman News
I. Whitman College in 1932-1933
A. There were no new professors added to the faculty.
B. Stephen Beasely Linnard Penrose was President of Whitman College.
C. Talcott Ostrander was President of the Associated Students of Whitman
D. Dorothy Robinson was Vice-President
E. George MacClain was Secretary-Treasurer
F. Roy MacCall was the Debate coach.
G. Robert Brome was the Manager of the men’s debate team
H. Marjorie Douglass was the Manager of the women’s debate team
III. At Whitman College
A. The Pioneer ran many adds for cigarettes, sports equipment, and new styles of clothing like Campus chords corduroy pants.
B. Fashion styles included a new wave of corduroy for men and hosiery, skirts, and blouses for women.
C. A huge dispute ran over whether freshmen should be allowed to pledge in Delta Gamma
D. Grades were changed from a number-scale to the current scale of letter grades to fall in line with changing times and in an attempt to lessen emphasis on grades and thus lower cheating.
Men's
Debate
Whitman
wranglers tins vear participated in one of the most comprehensive
schedules
ever arranged liere. Manager Robert
Brome scheduled a total of thirty-
four
debates, local teams winning sixteen, losing thirteen, and tying one. Four were
non-decision
affairs.
Probably
the outstanding contest of tile vear occurred on November 17, when
Harold
Garretson and dark F.mery defeated a team from Robert College, Istanbul,
Turkey. Taking the negative of the national
unemployment insurance question the
Whitman
men did some of the best work of the season in earning a 2 to I decision.
This
debate, the first international meeting in several years, was held at the
Capitol
Theater. The foreign pair, Rifat and Ziki, had
beliind them a pretentious record of
wins
on their American tour.
Home-and-home
series witli Washington State College and tlie University of
Idaho
gave Whitman a clean sweep of four victories.
Robert Brome and Walter
Ball
defeated tlie Pullmanites twice and Idaho once, while Bail and Harry Leilrer
took
tlie other win. The question used was
that of wage-cutting and the depression.
The
second semester opened witli a non-decision debate liere against Northwest
Nazarene
College. Wilson Wallis and Clint
Corliss represented Whitman. Waiter
Ball
and Harry Lehrer were selected to take part in a debate tournament at Mc-
Minnville
under Linfield College auspices; tliere they won six, including a defeat of
Willamette,
and lost four. They also met the
University of Oregon in a non-decis-
ion
encounter, considering the centralized control of industry.
Another
seasonal highlight came with the arrival of Kelleher and Alexander,
the
University of Montana pair whose wit pleased audiences here a year ago. In
an
exceptionally close meeting they repeated their former success by taking a
decis-
ion
from Brome and Ball. The popular
cross-question method was used, the wage-
cutting
question being debated. Two nights
later they won again from Brome and
Garretson
in the same style of wrangle.
Whitmanites have yet to secure a decision
in
this cross-question system, though it has definitely proved a drawing-card
here.
Climaxing
the year was the California trip, tile most pretentious undertaken for
some
time. Walter Ball and Harry Lehrer were
named as the traveling squad. De-
bates
enroute included a non-decision affair with the University of Oregon, and loss-
es to
U. C. L. A., Southern California, Oregon State, and Southwestern Law school.
The
last two named were close 2-1 decisions, the California schools winning by vote
of
a critic judge. Centralized control was
argued in each case.
At
Redlands another debate tournament was entered, results showing three vic-
tories
and two defeats. Wins were taken from
San Bernardino State, Los Angeles
State,
and College of tlie Pacific, wliile Linfield and n'oodbury proved too strong.
Critic
judges were used in all debates. Both
at Redlands and at Pomona, Ball and
Lehrer
entered Pacific Coast speaking contests. Ball reaching semi-final eliminations
in
botli cases. Whittier furnished tlie
last competition of the trip in a non-decision
contest.
To
close the season traveling teams from Brigliam Young University, Oregon
State
College and Pacific University competed in Walla Walla. Ball and Lehrer lost
to
Pacific, won from the Utahans, and tied with tlie Corvallis men when the judges
were
unable to pick a winner. In spite of such
an impasse to end the year, debate
really
had an exceptional degree of success, due especially to the efforts of Coach
Roy
McCall and manager Brome.
Women)s
Debate
Varsity
debate for women tins year took on the aspect of a women's rights cam-
paign,
the official questions being: Resolved; "That college disciplinary
regulations
should
be the same for both men and women," and, "That the Nevada divorce
laws
should
be condemned." Whitman
representatives proved themselves especially cap-
able
in arguing along these lines, winning a very fair majority of the encounters
dur-
ing
a well-filled season. Marjorie
Douglas, as manager, was in charge,
of the
schedule.
Tile
fall season included liome and abroad contests witli tile University of Idaho
and
Washington State College, honors being even in both cases. Ruth Blaine and
Mary
Reed won over both those teams in n'alla Walla on December 8th and 10th
respectively,
upholding the affirmative of the single standard in collegiate regulations.
Mary
Bower and Marjorie Douglas were less fortunate on their road trip, dropping
encounters
in Moscow and Pullman on December 11th.
Affirmative teams were vic-
torious
in every debate of this series.
Tlie
spring schedule used the Nevada divorce statutes as its field for wrangling.
Mary
Bower and Ruth Blaine met the University of Oregon in Walla Walla on Feb-
ruary
14th in the season's opener, a non-decision affair. Victories over Willamette
and
Pacific Universities followed on February 26th and March 14th here, Wliitman's
representatives
being Marjorie Douglas and Mary Reed, and Ruth Blaine and Isa-
belle
Welty.
Tlic
women's spring debate tour covering .over
one thousand miles
through
Western
Oregon and Washington was scheduled April 17 to April 24. Mary Bower
and
Mary Reed represented Whitman throughout tile trip on tile affirmative side of
tlie
Nevada question while Ruth Blaine and Marjorie Douglas upheld the negative.
Nine
debates were participated in by the travelers.
At Pacific University in
Forest
Grove tlie negative carried away tlie decision while the affirmative took part
in
a non-decision fray. For the first
time in several years Whitman met Linfield
College
at McMinnville in two non-decision talk-fests.
University of Oregon offer-
ed
another debate for Whitman's negative team without decision. The following
day
both teams were bowed before the onslaught of Oregon State College's debaters,
but
rallied to split tlie decisions in the two debates with Oregon Normal School at
Monmoutli. These last two constituted tlie first ever
to be
scheduled with this
school.
With
the return of tlie debaters the season was declared officially closed. To
summarize
tlie season we find tlie women liave engaged in a total of sixteen debalcs
of
wiliell five were noil-decision, five were lost and six were won.
Speech
in the English Department News
DEPARTMENT
OF ENGLISH
Professor
DAVIS, Professor BLANKENSHIP, Assistant Professor
DAVIS,
Assistant Professor LAPHAM, Mr. CHAOUN, Mr. MCCALL,
Students
who select English as their major study are advised
to have
by the end of the Sophomore year (1) at least nine hours
elected
from Courses 21, 23-24, 25, 31, 40, and 58; (2) ten houM
of
beginning Greek or Latin, or high school equivalent; (3) a read-
ing knowledge
of French, Spanish or German. In the
Junior and
Senior
years a major in English should include (1) a general
knowledge
of the social aspects of English and American history;
(2) at
least five hours elected from Courses 51, 52, 54, 56, 57-68,
and 81-82;
(3) at least seventeen hours elected from upper class
courses
in Literature, Greek 51 or 52, Latin 52, and Philology
81-82.
Courses
I or 2, and 15-16, are required in the Freshman year.
Two
additional hours elected from Courses 31, 51, 52, 54, 81-82, to
be
completed during the Sophomore, Junior or Senior year are re-
quired
of all candidates for graduation.
Courses
of Instruction
ICOURSES
IN WRITING
I or
2. Composition
Two
hours, first or second semester
SI. Journalism
Two
hours, first semester
161. Narrative Writing
I Two hours, first semester
1.'~. Magazine Writing
I Two hours, second semester
I
6·6· Business Writing
' Two hours, second semester
].
81-82- Advanced Composition
f One or two hours, first and second
semesters
ICOURSES
IN SPEAKING
•
15-16. Public Speaking
; One hour, first and second semesters
.
55. Argumentation and Debate
' Two hours, first semester
;
56. Advanced Public Speaking
• Two hours, second semester
51-58. Dramatic interpretation and Play Production
Three
hours, first and second semesters
COURSES
IN LITERATURE—Given every year
SS-24. Types of Prose. Fiction
Two
hours, first and second semesters
67-68. American Literature
Three hours,
first and second semesters
85-86. Honors Course
One or
two hours, first and second semesters
87-88. Senior Reading Course
Two or
three hours, first and second semesters
97-98. The- Teaching of English in the High School
One
hour, first and second semesters
1933
HONOR
SOCIETIES
Delta Sigma Rho, national honorary forensic fraternity, has established a chapter at the College. Membership is earned part by participation in at least two intercollegiate contests.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
The Associated Students of Whitman College, an organization of which every student is a member, has control of student activities in athletics, journalism, debate, oratory and music. The President, Vice-President and Secretary are elected by the student ha and constitute, with the Graduate Manager and Faculty Adviser the Executive Committee. Meetings are held on Thursdays at 11 AM. during the college year.
National social fraternities for men and women and local. Organizations for men and women have been established with the approval of the faculty and under its supervision. Members of the organizations are expected to maintain superior standards of scholarship and conduct.
COURSES IN SPEAKING AND DRAMATIC ART
15 or 16. Public Speaking
Instruction and training in oral communication; correction of voice ~eets; training in right vocal habits. Sections limited to sixteen.
Two hours, one semester.
47. Argumentation
and Debate
Principles of argumentation and practice in convincing discussion of ~puted questions.
Two hours, first semester.
55 or 56.
Public Speaking, Advanced Course
Preparation and delivery of the informal and the formal public speech; vocal training; extemporaneous discussion. Limited to twenty students.
Two hours, one semester.
57-58. (Unit)
Dramatic Interpretation and Play Production
Instruction in dramatic interpretation and experience in dramatic pro duction through the public presentation of several plays. Prerequisite Course 59.
Two hours, first semester; three hours second semester.
59. Oral
Interpretation
Practice in reading and interpreting the printed page. Limited ft twenty students.
Two hours, first semester.
75-76. Advanced
Debate
Credit for work done, first and second semesters.
World
News
II. In the World
A. President Hoover sets up the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Its purpose is to provide emergency financing for US financial institutions and to help agriculture, commerce and industry.
B. Adolf Hitler becomes German Chancellor. Germany's financial system and the economy in general are geared to rearmament.
C. Roosevelt becomes US President
D. The New Deal is launched. Restoration of confidence in the financial system is a necessary preliminary to the New Deal involving aid to industry and agriculture.
Dovell
Contest
The
Dovell contest, annual oratorical competition, which always sees the best
speaking
talent of the college in action, was as usual held in connection with the 1931
graduation
ceremonies.
Kenneth
Davis '32, for the second consecutive year, rated above his debating
colleague,
Albert Garretson, also a senior. Davis
used the oration that had earlier
won
him second place in the Pacific Coast competition at Seattle. Entitled "The
Shadow,"
it dealt with the menace of gangster rule.
Garretson, in placing second,
used
an aspect of the peace problem for his subject. Third honors went to Kath-
erine
Keisling, thus giving every prize to graduating students. Several other orators
competed
in the preliminaries and finals.
John
Brining Contest
The
John Brining extemporaneous speaking contest for members of the fresh-
man
class also saw its finals run off during commencement week-end. Harry Lehrer,
prominent
'34 debater, took the honors here, with Rachel Kester placing second.
Several
eliminations were necessary, since all members of public speaking classes had
opportunity
to enter.
Both
contests were endowed some years ago by friends of the college, the Dovell
competition
being named for one of its early graduates.
Cash prizes as well as the
distinction
connected witli placing in these annual affairs have served to draw in-
creasing
numbers of entrants during recent years.
Wrangler's
Club
Frosh
debaters at Whitman continued an old custom by initiating the year witli
great
plans and propositions, and completing it in comparatively dusty oblivion.
Arrangements
were made early for debates with certain nearby high schools,
and
also reciprocal trips to colleges of the region to meet freshman teams. Official-
dom
frowned upon tliese negotiations, however, on the assumption that first-year
men
ought
not represent the college abroad.
As
a consequence the club was left to internal debates, meetings opposing Ye
Taike
Slioppe, and a sole contest against a Walla Walla High School team on the
chain
store question.
Lincoln
Ries, president, led tlie group in an exceptionally competent manner
wlien
one considers various factors, not the least of which was members' lack of in-
terest, Other officers were DeLos Ransom,
vice-president, and Guido Pelligrini, sec-
retary. Marvin Cragun acted as faculty adviser.
Ye
Taike Shoppe
Ye
Taike Shoppe, formerly an extemporaneous speaking group, was this year
reorganized
into a freshman women's debating society.
Much enthusiasm has been
displayed
by the budding orators, and several interesting debates have been
held
with
the Wrangler's Club and the Wa-Hi debate team.
The purpose of the club is
to
develop debating among the freshmen women and to keep interest in debate alive
until
tile members are eligible for the varsity squad in their sophomore year. Much
credit
for the success of the group is due the officers: Virginia Gore, president;
Dor-
othy
Cruden, vice-president; Mary Elizabeth Ennis, secretary-treasurer.
Team
Results
IV. Debate at Whitman College
A. Men’s Debate
1. The resolution was national unemployment insurance
2. The team competed in a total of 34 debates. They won 16, lost 13, tied 1, and received 4 no-decisions.
3. Walter Bull and Harry Lehrer were chosen to travel to California to debate. Over the course of the trip, they debated 5 teams, lost 4 rounds, and received 1 no-decision. Their topic was centralized control.
4. Whitman College competed in the first international debate in years. Harold Garretson and Clark Emery debated against Robert College from Istanbul, Turkey. They won on a 2-1 decision.
B. Women’s Debate
1. Women had two topics. The first was “college disciplinary regulations should be the same for both men and women.” The second was that “Nevada divorce laws should be condemned.”
2. Combined, the team won 5 rounds, lost 6, and received 5 no-decisions.